I liked a lot of the reporting and found the early sections really good. Toward the end the book lost it’s thesis and meanders for a bit before a very strong last chapter. She makes some really good points and generally this is a very solid book.

Defectors by Paola Ramos is one of the most important and topical books I've read in a long time. Ramos carefully presents the angles from which Latinos in the US have been influenced by Trump and the ways in which they have been failed by our system. I especially appreciated her use of personal stories to explain how people of color in the US can come under the sway of white supremacy. A succinct exploration of some very big ideas, the writing is approachable and I really enjoyed the analysis.

I've been looking forward to reading this book. A lot of public figures I follow on social media spoke about the author and this book so this has been on my list since then. It has also been on GMA ahead of the election which gave me great context before reading the book. With keen insight and empathy, Ramos presents personal stories of individuals who have defected from political, social, or cultural systems, shedding light on the courage it takes to stand against the status quo. Through a mix of interviews, investigative journalism, and reflection, Defectors paints a vivid portrait of resistance and resilience, offering readers a window into the lives of those who dare to challenge authority. Thank you Paola Ramos, Knopf Books, and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5 rounded to 4 stars

Defectors is a highly digestible non-fiction book that explores the trend of some Latinos becoming radicalized to the far-right in the U.S. Through a mix of history, trends, and personal interviews, the book delves into the political trauma in Central and South America, often driven by U.S. intervention, which has fueled distrust in government systems and heightened fears of communism, especially among Cuban Americans.

Paola Ramos highlights the shift in Latino voting patterns, noting how despite Trump's anti-immigrant stance, he gained more Latino support in 2020 than in 2016. Ramos travels across the country, meeting GOP candidates, January 6th insurrectionists, and Evangelical leaders to understand why some Latinos support issues that seem at odds with their interests. The book shows how traditionalism, tribalism, and political trauma have been used to radicalize this community.

Overall, Defectors is a great introduction to this emerging trend. It’s easy to read and digest, though at times a bit repetitive. I wish the author had delved further into the nuances, but it’s a valuable starting point for understanding this shift.

I do recommend Defectors specially for people in the U.S who identify as part of the Latino/Hispanic community.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage & Anchor for an advanced reader’s copy of Defectors.

Defectors is more than just another nonfiction title, this book is a testament to the current political landscape among the Latine community. Paola Ramos' writing style is straightforward, honest, and sincere. I particularly loved the chapter on misinformation and have been rereading it often. Ramos does not shy away from exploring specific stories of past traumas, reasons behind the intention to assimilate, and current fears in the United States. This was such a unique and fresh take on modern "othering" and empathetic journalism. Ramos uses realistic accounts as a call to action to educate readers on the extent of Latin American colonialism and advocate for grassroots strategies. Thank you to Pantheon and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC! I highly recommend this!

Defectors explores why there is a far right sentiment among Latinos within three sections (tribalism, traditionalism, and trauma). I found the interviews fascinating and the history easy to follow.

I've been a fan of news reporter, Paola Ramos since watching her on Vice. I grew up watching her father, Jorge Ramos on Univision news. He's such a well known reporter among Latines. I had to request the book as soon as I saw it was available.

I live in a red state in a small city with a population under 26k, which around 30% are Latines. A lot of them vote red and this was one of the main reasons why I wanted to read this book. It wasn't to have empathy for this way of thinking but just to see why they would follow someone that doesn't hide his racism and just fuels more hate. For me, the sections that stood out the most was the section on Traditionalism which focuses on how the far right uses religion to gain voters to their side. It really was triggering to read about how they use LGBTQ+ people specially transgender people as their scapegoats.
"That's why Christian nationalism isn't foreign to Latinos. It has deep roots in our history, our bloodlines, our culture and in the way we've been socialized to view hieratchies. As Latinos, we have, for generations, internalized an unconscious for of submissiveness that normalizes indoctrination."

I was also really surprised that she had a chapter on Bukele (El Salvador's president) and how some view him as "a caudillo on steroids" which is really scary and yet so many want to have him as their president. I really liked how she talks about how men like Bukele usually rise to power and take advantage when "democracy feels slightly messy, uneasy or on the verge of umpredictable change."

I also liked how she talks about how the Democratic party continues to fail Latinos. I was really glad that she brought that up because lately that's how I've been feeling. I really have felt that specially with how the US continues to fund Israel to commit genocide on Palestine. It just feels like they know we are going to vote blue since we don't want Trump in office.

Highly recommend and its a great book to also learn about how Latinos have been used throughout US history to uphold white supremacy.

received this book gracious as an e-ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. I didn’t know the author, but was intrigued by the summary.

For background: I grew up first generation in a Cuban-American family moving between NJ and South FL.

I have often wondered why Cuban immigrants support white supremacy and have been so intrigued by the psychological gymnastics needed for an Afro-Cuban to be the leader of a White Supremacy group. Can a Latino be a white supremacist?

After reading this book, I realized who the author is and it does remind one of a Vice News story. But I loved it.

In my opinion, then personal stories are powerful and moving.

I don’t understand how Latinos who came to the US would turn around and say “build the wall”. Then I remember a part of Ibram X. Kendi’s book (How to be an AntiRacist) about trying to differentiate yourself from “those people”. People want to believe they are exceptional and should be granted a seat at the table, but then are afraid to lose that seat and then want to slam the door shut. Fear and division are great psychologically motivating tools especially when our society is so segregated.

Highly recommend this book if you want to learn more how Latin American colonialism is still functioning today in US politics.

Defectors explores why some Latinos are identify with and espouse far right viewpoints. I wasn’t expecting to learn so much about Latin history but I did find several answers to why a historically democratic bloc would make a seemingly 180 turn. In addition to history, Ramos weaves in psychology and expert viewpoints. About halfway through, I did find it difficult to pick up after having read such hateful viewpoints. Although some parts are hard to read, the interviews themselves are very interesting and eyeopening. But it does end at a somewhat hopeful point. Ramos reports clearly and provides easy to follow analysis.I’d recommend this to anyone who has a curiosity about immigration, politics or social media.

This book goes into the extreme side of what can happen when Latinos lean into their past traumas from the countries they left as they try to assimilate into the US.

It focuses on specific stories that show how fear can manifest in real lives. I enjoyed reading through Ramos interviews as she took an empathetic and human approach.

This was a very accessible read for a nonfiction book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pantheon for the ARC!

Paola Ramos’s "Defectors" is an engaging exploration into three factors that have influenced the US Latino population’s rightward shift—tribalism, traditionalism, and trauma.

For better or worse, "Defectors" feels heavily shaped by Ramos’s tenure with VICE. The book is filled with deeply empathetic interviews, all of which form a nuanced picture of human complexity that avoids political simplifications. It’s intensely readable, and the author is so thoughtful toward her interviewees. That said, the book does not avoid simplifications altogether—the analysis often takes a backseat to the human interest aspects of the writing. Each chapter centers around a few richly described profiles, which are supplemented with Ramos’s own experience and some supporting research, but they typically don’t move very far beyond a basic takeaway like “People are motivated by fear of the other.” I really appreciate this style of writing online, but it feels underdeveloped here.

Ramos’s approach certainly doesn’t diminish the value of the book, but it does reframe it—it feels more concerned with the “who”and the “what” than the “why.” "Defectors" excels at showing how far-right alignment has a real impact on real lives, but only certain chapters offer insight into its appeal. For example, Ramos’s exploration of Christian nationalism effectively shapes a great deal of history and theology into a compelling argument, and the chapter on the dissemination of misinformation is similarly focused. Unfortunately, the writing style feels less coherent in chapters that use Latino identity as a lens for analysis rather than its subject. Several of these chapters feel a little too general to be relevant; while these sections are still interesting, they feel like part of a different book because they prioritize universality over the specificity that defines the stronger chapters.

Speaking of the book’s strengths, “Part III: Trauma” showcases Ramos at the height of her ability, and her analysis of political habits as a trauma response feels very insightful. Here, the author interviews a few people with a politically flexible penchant for extremism, and she gracefully articulates how a generational fear of communism can motivate such behavior. It’s in moments like this that Defectors reaches its potential, but they feel like glimpses of a different book—one that looks beyond documentation and toward interpretation.

These are, perhaps, the limits of journalism, but I found myself wanting a little more.

"Defectors" by Paola Ramos is absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in politics, demographics, and the changing face of America. As I was reading, I found myself thinking back to the book "The Latino Wave," written twenty years ago by her father, Univision anchor Jorge Ramos. Back then, in 2004, it seemed inconceivable that any (Republican) candidate for higher office would ever be successful without earning the trust of at least 40% of the Latino vote. Paola has done an amazing job of laying bare the reasons why and how the numbers have changed since then.

I was particularly taken by the story of Raul Rodriguez, the undocumented Border Patrol agent who lost both his job and his citizenship when, unbeknownst to him, his birth certificate was discovered as having been falsified by his family. It contrasts sharply with the story of Lance Cpl. Jose A. Gutierrez, an orphan from Guatemala who hopped railcars across Mexico and entered the US in 1997. He was declared a ward of the state, joined the Marines, and was among the first servicemen killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was posthumously granted US citizenship.

"Defectors" is a truly amazing work of journalism and social science.